Breakdown – Your VA Loan Eligibility, Based on Your Service

According to the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs, the minimum active-duty service requirements are as follows:

If you are a current service member

  • You must have served for at least 90 continuous days (all at once, without a break in service), to meet the minimum active-duty service requirement.

If you are a Veteran

  • The minimum active-duty service requirements depend on when you served.
    • If you served between August 2, 1990 (Gulf war period) and the present meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you’ve served in any of the following ways:
      • Served for at least 24 continuous months
      • Served the full period (at least 90 days) for which you were called or ordered to active duty
      • Served at least 90 days if you were discharged for a hardship, or a reduction in force
      • Served for less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability
  • If you served between September 8, 1980, and August 1, 1990, You meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:
    • At least 24 continuous months, or
    • The full period (at least 181 days) for which you were called to active duty, or
    • At least 181 days if you were discharged for a hardship, a reduction in force, or
    • Less than 181 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability
  • If you served between October 17, 1981, and August 1, 1990, as an officer, you meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:
    • At least 24 continuous months, or
    • The full period (at least 181 days) for which you were called to active duty, or
    • At least 181 days if you were discharged for a hardship, or a reduction in force, or
    • Less than 181 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability
  • If you served between May 8, 1975, and September 7, 1980 ( post- Vietnam War period)  you meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:
    • 181 continuous days, or
    • Less than 181 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability
  • If you served between August 5, 1964, and May 7, 1975 ( Vietnam War) you meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:
    • At least 90 total days, or
    • Less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability
  • If you served between November 1, 1955, and May 7, 1975, in the Republic of Vietnam you meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:
    • At least 90 total days, or
    • Less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability
  • If you served between February 1, 1955, and August 4, 1964 ( post- Korean War period) you meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:
    • At least 181 total days, or
    • Less than 181 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability
  • If you served between June 27, 1950, and January 31, 1955 (Korean War) you meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:
    • At least 90 total days, or
    • Less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability
  • If you served between July 26, 1947, and June 26, 1950 (post-WWII period) you meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:
    • At least 181 continuous days, or
    • Less than 181 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability
  • If you served between September 16, 1940, and July 25, 1947 (WWII) you meet the minimum active-duty service requirement if you served for:
    • At least 90 total days, or
    • Less than 90 days if you were discharged for a service-connected disability
  • If you are a National Guard member
    • The minimum active-duty service requirements also depend on when you served. If you served between August 2, 1990, and the present September 16, 1940, and July 25, 1947 (WWII)